Shelf apparatus



May 10, 1960 w. J. CLARK ETA!- 5 SHELF APPARATUS Filed June so, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS I Mu MM (MA mm c. came/0 BY i l M/f%MM United States Patent SHELF APPARATUS William J. Clark, Philadelphia, and Iher C. Courson, Glenside, Pa., assignors to Philco Corporation, Plu'ia delphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June '30, 1958, Serial No. 745,554

Claims. (Cl. 312-302) This invention relates to shelving and, more particularly, to improved shelf apparatus intended for use within a storage compartment of a normally enclosed cabinet.

While of broader applicability, the principles of the invention are particularly applicable to the field of refrigeration and, accordingly, the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing are illustrative of the invention as embodied in shelf structure employed in the cabinet of a household refrigerator.

Broadly, it is the objective of our invention to provide shelf structure in which the elements providing the article-supporting surface may be withdrawn from the confines of the cabinet and be revolved, to facilitate access to supported articles when the shelf structure is in the extended or withdrawn position. The apparatus is featured by the fact that while revolving of the shelf is at the option of the user, such movement may also be effected, if desired, automatically and inherently upon sliding withdrawal movement of the shelf.

A further more detailed object of the invention is to provide a withdrawable and rotatable shelf which is of unusually steady and rigid construction and in which binding of the mechanism, in response to superimposed loads, is virtually eliminated.

Heretofore, several different approaches to the problem of increased shelf accessibility have been made. One step in this direction comprises simple pivotation of the shelf in order that articles carried at the back thereof may be presented forwardly .in position for ready access through the cabinet door and, in certain of these devices, the point of pivotation has been so chosen as to provide a degree of shelf projection from the cabinet. In the latter case withdrawal of the shelf is necessarily accompanied by rotation thereof a fact which is, at times, very undesirable and, in certain designs, the shelfsupporting rod interferes with free access.

Other known shelf arrangements have utilized tracks accommodating rectilinear or translational withdrawal of the shelf without any possibility of rotation thereof; whereas still another approach has been to provide relatively complicated cam and guide arrangements providing for conjoint withdrawal and rotation of the shelf structure. No satisfactory shelf arrangement has provided structure which may be withdrawn from the cabinet and which, at the option of the operator, may then be revolved to facilitate access to particular parts thereof. Still less has it been known to afford automatic rotation, in response to withdrawal in a shelf in which withdrawal, independent of rotation, is also available at the option of the user.

In brief explanation of more detailed aspects of the invention, it is emphasized that our new shelf embodies features of construction and arrangement which make it possible to achieve the independent or differential adjustment movements described above in most positive and precise manner and with almost complete elimination of problems arising from cocking or binding of the shelf structure.

The manner in which the foregoing and other objectives and advantages may best be achieved will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective showing of refrigerator cabinet structure embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the cabinet structure shown in Figure l, and illustrating one mode of operation of the apparatus of the invention;

Figure 3 is a showing similar to that of Figure 2, and illustrating an additional mode of operation;

Figure 4- is a showing similar to that of Figure 2, and illustrating still another operational feature of the invention;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view, with parts broken away, illustrating shelf means made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional showing of the assembled apparatus of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a somewhat enlarged perspective showing, with parts broken away, of apparatus seen in Figure 5.

in the achievement of the foregoing as well as other objectives, the invention comprises shelf support structure that affords selective extension and rotation of a shelf, as well as a combination of such movements in a single operation. To this end, the shelf support structure includes, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of fixed, parallelly disposed guide rail means having a member mounted for translatable sliding movements thereon. The aforesaid member includes a suitably configured bearing surface for a rotatable ring-like shelf support element mounted on the member and substantially contiguous therewith. The construction and arrangement of the above described shelf support structure is such that it affords relative angular as well as linear movements between a supported shelf and the guide rail means. It is a feature of the invention that a peripheral portion of the shelf slidably engages suit able bearing means associated with the guide rail means, in response to rotation of the shelf while in its retracted position, thereby causing the shelf to move linearly to effect extension of the latter under one condition of operation.

Now making more detailed reference to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, the numeral 10 designates refrigerator cabinet structure having an openfront food storage compartment 1i normally closed by a door 12. Compartment 11 is provided with a plurality of article supporting shelves 13 and a novel differentially slidable and rotatable shelf apparatus 14, to be hereinafter more fully described. As seen also in Figures 2 to 5, refrigerator cabinet structure 10 includes an outer shell 15 separated from a liner 16 by suitable insulation 17. Liner 16 includes a rear wall 18 and two side walls 19 and 2t} cooperating with top and bottom walls, not identified, to define the food storage compartment 11. Breaker strip 24 closes the opening between the outer wall and the inner liner adjacent the access opening of the refrigerator.

As best seen in Figure 5 the novel shelf apparatus 14 comprises, generally, shelf support structure 25 and means defining an article supporting shelf 26. Preferably, although not necessarily, the shelf 26 comprises a metal stamping having a planar grid-like portion 27 provided with down-turned peripheral flange portions 28 and 29. As will be hereinafter more fully explained, flange portions 25' are disposed along a substantially cir: cular arc concentric with the rotating track means, and having a diameter substantially equal to the width of the food compartment 11.

With further reference to Figure 5 of the drawing, the shelf support structure 25 includes a substantially 'U- of the food compartment.

shaped frame member 30, preferably but not necessarily formed of channel stock, including parallel leg portions 34. Free ends of leg portions 34 are insertable into aperture means 35 formed within the rear wall 18 of the cabinet liner, whereby to support the frame member. Each of a pair of sleeve members 36 closely engages a leg portion 34 in the region of the compartment rear wall 18. Each of these sleeve members 36 preferably is molded of a suitable plastic material and includes a bearing portion 37 extending transverse the leg portions 34, the purpose of these bearing portions will he hereinafter explained. A straight member 38, also of channellike cross sectional configuration, is affixed to the trans verse portion of the U-shaped frame member 39, extends substantially in the direction thereof, and spans the width The ends 'of this member 38 are releasably supported upon suitable bracket means or pins 39 provided in the side walls 1? and 20 of the food compartment liner, in the region of the access opening therein.

Circular track means 40, conveniently comprising a sheet metal stamping 4-1, extends between the leg portions 34 of the support member 30 and is slidably affixed thereto by a plurality of suitable bracket means 44, as seen in Figures and 6. Each of the bracket means 44 comprises a suitable bearing material, preferably a molded plastic such as nylon, and includes a groove 45 that receives a leg 33 of the channel which forms leg portion 34. Assembly of the track means to the leg portions 34 is facilitated in that an upper horizontal portion of each bracket means 44 includes a portion attached to track means 46 by screws 46, and a tab portion 47 extending through a corresponding aperture 48 provided in the track means 40. Thus, when assembling the apparatus, the brackets may be slipped laterally onto channel legs 33 while inserting the tab portions 47 into the apertures 4-8, followed by insertion of the screws 46.

A ring-like member 49, for example also a metal stamping, is supported upon stamping 41 of the circular track means 40, and is disposed concentrically therewith for angular sliding movements along the same. This sliding movement is provided by suitable bearing members Si preferably of molded nylon, known to be suitable for this purpose, retained within slots 54- formed within the ring-like member. Said members 50 include ridge portions 55 (Figure 6), as well as a lower support flat surface portion 56, the latter portions being presented toward and engaging the stamping 41. Track means it? includes flange means 42 which, as best seen in Figure 6, is attached to stamping 41 by rivets 51. This flange means slidably engages. ridge portions 55, thereby serving as a retainer for the rotatable ring-like member 49.

Thus it is seen, particularly from Figure 6, that the ring-like member 49 is free to slide and rotate within a groove-like portion of the track means 40, and that the latter is linearly slidable along guide rails or leg portions 34.

Structure for mounting the shelf 26 upon the ring-like member 49 includes a frame 58 having respective front and rear parallel bars 59 and 60 aflixed to substantially straight portions of said ring-like member, said bars 59 and 60 being interconnected by resilient, outwardly bowed portions 64 and 65. The aforementioned bowed portions 64 and 65 are provided with a plurality of somewhat resilient spacer elements 66 which cooperate with downturned flange portions 29 of the shelf 26 resiliently to engage the latter and releasably to retain the same.

It is of course to be noted that extending the track means 40 over a substantial area of the shelf structure has made possible distribution of the rotational bearing surfaces over large surface areas, specifically over areas of flange 42 as well as stamping 41. Inherent in the foregoing novel structure are low bearing pressures as well as substantially uniformly distributed shelf supporting forces which provide extensible and rotatable shelf apparatus which is of unusually steady and rigid construction, and in which binding of the mechanism in response to superimposed loads is virtually eliminated.

Detent means for retaining the shelf 26 in either its non-rotated (Figure 2) or rotated (Figure 4) positions is seen in Figures 5 and 7 and includes a resilient member 67 mounted to ring member 49. Mounting of the member 67 is conveniently effected by tabs 68, each including web portions 69 receivable within slots 74, and flange portions 70 that closely engage a surface portion of the stamping 41. The resilient member 67 further includes a keeper 75 that is resiliently urged against flange means 42 by a defiectable beam portion 73. The keeper is receivable Within depressions 76 and 77 corresponding, for example, to respective non-rotated and rotated positions of the shelf, thereby releasably to maintain the shelf in either of the aforementioned positions.

Now turning with particularity to Figures 2 and 4, the former illustrates, in broken lines, the normal rest position of the shelf 26, as well as, in full lines, its fully extended non-rotated position. Translational movements of the shelf 26 between these positions are readily accomplished merely by applying a force to the shelf sufficient to overcome frictional forces between bracket means 44 and leg portions 34, the force being applied in such a manner as not to overcome the frictional holding force exerted by keeper 75 against sides of the depression 76 and preventing rotation of the shelf. For example translational movement to extend the shelf may readily be effected by grasping a front central edge portion of the shelf 26 and pulling the latter from Within the compartment.

Figure 4 illustrates, in full lines, the shelf 26 in its combined extended and rotated positions and, in broken lines, its normal rest or retracted position. This rotated shelf position may readily be attained by applying a rotative force to the shelf, following extension thereof, sufficient to overcome the holding force exerted by keeper 75 against the sides of depression 76. The shelf 26 is held in this particular rotated position through interengagement of the keeper 75 with sides of depression 77. However, it will be understood that the shelf may be rotated to any desired position other than the positions for which detent means are provided.

in accordance with a further novel feature of the invention, Figure 3 illustrates the manner in which the shelf 26 may, if desired, be simultaneously extended and rotated through application of a rotational force, for example by grasping and pulling the left front corner of the shelf. in applying such a force, the holding force exerted by the keeper 75 of the detent means is readily overcome and rotation of the shelf is effected. The right rear corner of the shelf 26, the juncture of downturned flange portions 28 and 29, is so arranged as slidably to engage the bearing portion 37 of the sleeve 36, in response to rotation of the shelf. Continued application of the rotational force results in a camming action between the shelf flange portions and bearing 37, said action being effective to overcome the frictional forces between the bracket means 44 and leg portions 34, whereby to provide conjoint movement of the shelf to the extended and rotated position shown in Figure 4. The shelf is locked in this position through interengagement of resiliently actuated keeper 75 with sides of depression 77. The center of the shelf 26 reaches such extended position substantially at the instant the aforementioned rear corner disengages the bearing 37, following which the curved flange portion 29, alone, of the shelf contacts the bearing 37 and accommodates complete rotation of the shelf to any desired position. Return of the shelf 14 to its rest position is accomplished merely by rotating the latter to the position shown in Figure 2, and sliding the same to the rear.

An additional broken line showing, as indicated at 26',

illustrates that the shelf may selectively be rotated in the opposite direction, in similar manner.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that the present invention provides a novel and improved shelf apparatus affording automatic rotation of a shelf in response to withdrawal thereof, wherein withdrawal independent of rotation is also available at the option of the user.

An additional advantage, of course, lies in the ease with which the structure may be disassembled for cleaning purposes. For example, shelf 26 may be removed merely by exerting an upward pressure thereon with respect to the support structure 25. Also, the entire shelf apparatus 14 may be removed from the cabinet merely by lifting the straight member 38 clear of pins 39, followed by slipping ends of portions 34 from apertures 35. Sleeve-like bearing members 36 are then removable, thus accommodating sliding removal of the circular track means 40 from guide rails 30.

While the present invention has been shown and described in a household refrigerator, it is to be understood that its use is not thus limited, and that the apparatus of the invention may take such other forms as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with cabinet structure having a compartment provided with guide track means, carriage means engaging said guide track means for sliding movements on the latter from a position within the compartment to a position in which it projects outwardly of said compartment, base means engaging said carriage means for rotatable movements thereon, article support means carried by said base means, and means defining an abutment surface within the compartment positioned to engage a portion of said article support means in response to a rotational force applied to said article support means when the latter is in a position within the compartment thereby to effect conjoint sliding and rotating movements of said article support means outwardly of the compartment.

2. For use with cabinet structure having a compartment, shelf apparatus comprising guide track means adapted to be supported within such compartment, carriage means engaging said guide track means for sliding movements on the latter to and from a position within such compartment, base means engaging said carriage means for rotatable movements thereon, article support means carried by said base means, and means defining an abutment surface carried by said guide track means and positioned to engage a portion of said article support means in response to a rotational force applied to said article support means when the latter is in a position within such compartment, thereby to effect conjoint sliding and rotating movements of said article support means.

3. In combination, cabinet structure having walls forming a compartment therein, said compartment having an access opening in one of said walls, parallel guide rail means mounted within said compartment and extending away from said access opening, bearing means carried by said guide rail means and disposed within said compartment, said bearing means including a portion extending transverse said rail means, carriage means carried by said guide rail means and mounted for sliding movements on the latter, base means carried by said carriage means and mounted for rotatable movements thereon, and article support means carried by said base means, a portion of said article support means being slidably engageable with said transversely extending portion of said bearing means, in response to rotation of said support means, thereby to effect conjoint sliding and rotational movements of said article support means from within said compartment.

4. For use in cabinet structure of the type comprising wall means defining a compartment therein, such compartment having an access opening in one of said wall means, guide rail means adapted to be mounted within such a compartment, bearing means carried by said guide rail means and including portions extending transverse the latter, carriage means carried by and engaging said guide rail means for sliding movements thereon, base means mounted on said carriage means for rotatable movement thereon, and article support means carried by said base means, portions of said article support means being slidably engageable with said transversely extending portions of said bearing means, in response to rotation of said support means, thereby to provide for conjoint sliding and rotational movements of said article support means through the access opening of such compartment.

5. For use with cabinet structure having a compartment, unitary shelf apparatus comprising: a pair of guide rails each adapted to be supported in spaced relation within such compartment; carriage means disposed in a plane closely overlying said guide rails, and having bearing means disposed at opposite sides thereof and in slidable engagement with upper and lower surface portions of said guide rails for sliding movements along the latter and with respect to such compartment; circular track means including a radially presented groove disposed upon and in substantial coplanar relation with said carriage means; base means closely overlying said circular track means and including a ring portion disposed with in said groove, said ring portion including bearing means disposed for slidable engagement with said groove to provide for rotational sliding movements of said base means about said track means; shelf means carried by said base means and including an article support surface closely overlying said base means and a downturned peripheral flange portion presented toward said guide rails and substantially enclosing said base means and portions of said carriage means; and means defining an abutment surface carried by each of said guide rails and extending transversely of the latter in position to be engaged by the downturned flange portion of said shelf means in response to a rotational force applied to the latter when it is positioned within such compartment, thereby to effect conjoint sliding and rotating movements of said shelf means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,219,405 Smith Mar. 13, 1917' 1,687,149 Shauer Oct. 9, 1928 2,070,055 Levien Feb. 9, 1937 2,109,999 Johnson Mar. 1, 1938 2,403,164 Ahrens July 2, 1946 2,647,812 Saunders Aug. 4, 1953 

